Written Answers Wednesday 9 February 2011

Scottish Executive

Drug Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all organisations and GPs involved with problem drug misusers now use SMR25a and SMR25b forms and what percentage of each is completed electronically.

Fergus Ewing: Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR) 25a submissions can be made using either paper forms or by submitting an electronic form to NHS Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland. SMR25b submissions can only be completed electronically.

  At present, ISD Scotland gathers submissions of SMR25a (initial assessment) and SMR25b (follow-up assessment) forms from all services that provide a "comprehensive or specialist assessment of a client’s care/treatment needs in relation to drug misuse".

  For those services that meet this definition:

  a. Statutory (includes all NHS and local authority services) and voluntary drug treatment services:

  SMR25a forms are received from all statutory and voluntary drug treatment services in Scotland. Approximately 70% of these SMR25a submissions are completed electronically.

  In Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Aberdeen City approximately 65% and 75% respectively of statutory and voluntary drug treatment services currently submit SMR25a forms electronically to ISD Scotland.

  Outwith Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Aberdeen City, approximately 95% of statutory and voluntary drug treatment services currently submit SMR25a forms electronically to ISD.

  SMR25b forms are only submitted (electronically) by services who are also submitting electronic SMR25a forms. The vast majority of services that are submitting SMR25a forms electronically are also submitting SMR25b forms.

  ISD is working with data providers throughout Scotland to ensure that, as soon as possible, all services that provide a "comprehensive or specialist assessment of a client’s care/treatment needs in relation to drug misuse" are submitting electronic SMR25a and SMR25b forms to ISD Scotland.

  b. Primary care providers (including GPs):

  SMR25a paper form submissions are received from a limited number of primary care providers. No electronic SMR25a or SMR25b submissions are received from primary care providers.

  ISD will shortly be following up its initial contact with GPs with the aim of reaching a point where all relevant GPs are submitting SMR25a paper forms to ISD. After this has been achieved ISD will work with these GPs with the aim of reaching a point where they are all submitting SMR25a and SMR25b data electronically.

  c. Prisons:

  Since 1 April 2010, drug treatment services within all 13 publicly funded Scottish prisons make electronic SMR25a and SMR25b submissions. At present, the two private prisons in Scotland do not currently submit any SMR25a or SMR25b data to ISD.

  ISD will shortly be engaging with the drug treatment services in the two private prisons with the aim of reaching a point where they are submitting SMR25a and SMR25b data electronically.

  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Ref: IR2011-00217.

Fuel Prices

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what average petrol prices (a) have been in each of the last five years and (b) are forecast to be in each of the next five years and what comparable information it has for (i) each of the other component parts of the United Kingdom, (ii) each EU member state and (iii) each OECD country that is not an EU member state.

Jim Mather: The matter is reserved and therefore the information requested is not held centrally by Scottish Government.

  However, some figures for the UK are produced by the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change, and can be found at:

  http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/prices/prices.aspx.

  Some external organisations also produce information on fuel prices, but these are not official statistics and are not verified by Scottish Government. The AA, for example, publishes a monthly Fuel Price Report, which contains figures for countries and regions of the UK as well as for a range of European and non-European countries. The latest report (January 2011) can be found at: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuel/index.html.

Local Government Finance

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given local authorities guidance on what facilities and services should be protected when considering reductions in spending.

John Swinney: It is for each local authority to allocate the financial resources available to it on the basis of its statutory obligations and local needs and priorities. In doing so, local authorities will of course take account of the terms agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA’s leadership for the 2011-12 local government finance settlement.

Parliamentary Questions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38496 by Michael Russell on 20 January 2011, whether it will provide a response that addresses the specific issues raised in the question.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has already provided an answer to question S3W-38496. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Public Sector Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to transfer staff from Waterwatch Scotland to Consumer Focus Scotland and, if so, how the interests of consumers protected by Waterwatch Scotland will be maintained, in light of the UK Government’s proposal to abolish Consumer Focus.

John Swinney: Staff from Waterwatch Scotland would be transferred to Consumer Focus Scotland on the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Public Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. A commencement order for these provisions can only be made after the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2011. To ensure the smooth transfer of business and staff the Scottish Government has agreed a planned transfer date of 1 July 2011 with Waterwatch Scotland, Consumer Focus Scotland and the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman.

  The UK Government will shortly be launching a consultation on its proposals for consumer advocacy and has made clear that Consumer Focus will continue to function well into 2012. The Scottish Government is in discussions with the UK Government and Consumer Focus Scotland as to the best way to maintain strong advocacy on a range of consumer interests, including water.

Wind Farms

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of applications for wind farm developments has been approved when there has been an outstanding objection from Scottish Natural Heritage since May 2007.

Jim Mather: Of the 25 applications for wind farm developments determined by the Scottish Government since May 2007, two have been approved with an outstanding objection from Scottish Natural Heritage.

Wind Farms

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discretion it has to approve applications for wind farm developments when there is an outstanding objection from Scottish Natural Heritage and what factors it must take into account in making such a determination.

Jim Mather: Scottish Ministers have discretion to approve applications for wind farm developments where there is an outstanding objection from Scottish Natural Heritage if they deem it appropriate to do so after considering that objection and all other representations and material considerations.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Scottish Parliament Procurement

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much milk it purchases annually; by whom it is supplied; what the farms of origin are, and what average price is paid per litre.

Alex Johnstone: From January 2010 to December 2010, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body purchased 26,197 litres of milk. The milk is supplied by Graham’s Family Dairy, which is based in Bridge of Allan. The milk supplied is procured from 70 Farm Assured farms all located within Scotland. Due to the milk being supplied via our catering service provider, we are unable to state the average price paid per litre as this information is commercially sensitive.